FAQ

When does the course start?

The first problem will arrive on the day you register (and your payment is confirmed). If you register on a Saturday or Sunday, the first problem will arrive on the following Monday.

All times and dates are based on Japan Standard Time (JST).

Will I be able to speak English perfectly with just Trek?

The short answer is, no. However, we believe that the key to actually learning to use English in real situations is through practice. This course is designed to get you writing and speaking phrases consistently so that they come to you naturally the next time you are in a situation where you need to speak English.

When will I get corrections?

If you submit homework the same day you receive it, we'll do our very best to send you your corrections within 24 hours. (Please be aware that there may be times when we can't send out corrections by the time stated above.) If you submit homework on a different day than the day you received it, it may take us a little longer to correct your work.

I want to learn English in the easiest way possible

Trek is designed for people who realize that it takes effort in order learn. We can't make learning English easy, but we can provide you with an efficient method that is guaranteed to help you improve. For people who don't have the time or resources to live abroad, HiNative Trek is here to guide you through the daily process of learning English.

What browser does it work on?

Use the latest version of Google Chrome when accessing HiNative Trek from a computer. Uploading voice answers is unavailable on other browsers.

Quick, efficient studying via a smartphone

What level of English speaker is Trek for?

Trek is for people who can read an article in English while using a dictionary, but who can't figure out what to say when they attend a conference and try to speak. Trek is focused on increasing your output and using a dictionary as you answer problems is perfectly fine. Think of this as your chance to finally use your stored up English knowledge on a daily basis.

Will I always have the same teacher?

Yes. You will have the same teacher throughout the year-long course. However, there may be times when a different teacher will correct your homework when your main teacher is unavailable. It is also possible to change your teacher if you wish.

I'm not confident in my English ability.

Trek is designed to get you writing and speaking so that you can build the confidence you need to use English in real situations. Even if you aren't confident in your English ability now, we think that with the support of your teacher and daily practice on Trek, you will be before long.

What is the latest I can turn problems in?

With HiNative Trek, even if you can't turn in your homework on a given day, you have up to 30 days within which you can turn that homework in and get a correction. When problems are turned in together, we will do our best to correct your work quickly. However, depending on the volume of submissions at the time, correcting your work may take as many days as the number of problems you turn in. Please be aware of this.

Who was in charge of writing the problems?

All materials in the HiNative Trek Business course were checked by multiple American native speakers of English who are working in American companies and startups today. We did everything we could to make sure that every phrase you learn is natural, practical, and applicable in modern professional environments.

Do you have any recommendations for supplementary materials?

When you have the time, we recommend you practice the phrases you learned on Trek with conversational partners on Skype or through supplemental conversation lessons.

How should I review what I've learned?

We recommend trying to write your own short essays and posting them on HiNative. You can use the “Does this sound natural?” question template to get feedback on your writing and pronunciation from native English speakers.

I want to talk with my teacher more.

You can ask your teacher up to three questions per problem. If you still have questions you want to ask, you can ask thousands of native speakers on HiNative. You may even find an additional teacher there!

I want to increase my overall English ability, not just my writing skills.

HiNative Trek isn’t about writing essays. It’s designed to make you think and to help you practice the important English phrases you need to get by in the IT and startup scene today. While there will be a lot of writing and speaking during the course, there are also special problems almost every week to help you develop your listening skills and reading comprehension. We design our courses so that every Trek student gets a well-rounded education.

Do the teachers have business experience?

Every teacher has work experience with an American company.

I can no longer access problems on HiNative Trek. What should I do?

Please contact the HiNative Trek support team with your HiNative account's username and email address in the body of the email.

How long will I continue to receive problems after canceling my subscription?

You will continue to receive problems until the date when your next payment would be due. You can also review your old problems, answers, and corrections as long as you maintain your account on HiNative. Homework turned in within a month of unsubscribing will be corrected by your Teacher.

Can I ask my teacher questions in my mother language?

There is no rule against asking questions in your native language, but please be aware that the majority of Trek Teachers do not speak it.

I don't have a HiNative account. Can I still use HiNative Trek?

When you sign up for HiNative Trek, an account on HiNative will automatically be created for you.

If I decide that Trek isn't right for me after I register, can I get a refund?

Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds at this time.

How much will I save by paying for a yearly subscription?

Students with a yearly subscription will save $16.30, or roughly 17% each month. In total, they will save $196 during the year.

Will my yearly subscription automatically renew?

This depends upon the course you are currently subscribed to.1) Students subscribed to Trek IT1 will have their yearly subscriptions automatically renewed and they will be switched to the IT2 course. (Students can cancel their subscriptions up until the day before their registration date the following year.)2) Students subscribed to Trek Business or Trek IT2 will not have their subscriptions renewed. They will automatically expire after a year passes. (Even after their subscriptions expire, students will have access to their homework and correction data as long as they do not delete their accounts.

How long do I have to cancel my yearly subscription before it's automatically renewed?

Only students subscribed to Trek IT1 will have their subscriptions automatically renewed.Students can cancel their subscriptions up until the day before their registration date the following year.

Can I change from a yearly to a monthly subscription after I sign up?

Yearly subscriptions can not be changed to monthly ones after sign up.

What happens if I cancel my yearly subscription during my subscription period?

Students can cancel their subscriptions during their subscription period, but please be aware that the remainder of the subscription price will not be refunded and problems will continue to be sent out until the original expiration date.